Discovering Eye Diseases Early
All of our eye exams involve a full discovery of your visual health, and that includes assessing your eyes for any potential eye diseases, such as glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic eye diseases.
Coming in for regular eye exams allows us to uncover eye conditions at their earliest stages, even before symptoms arise, and while treatment is easier and simpler.
Vision Symptoms to Watch For
In addition to your regular eye exams, pay attention to any sudden, new vision symptoms, which may be a sign of a potentially serious eye issue or a disease.
These symptoms may include:
- Any sudden changes to your vision
- Flashes of light or bright spots
- “Spider webs” or other floaters
- Blurry, hazy, or double vision
- Severe, sudden pain in your eye
- Unusual or painful light sensitivity
- Itching, burning, or discharge
We typically have same-day appointments for emergency eye care. Please reach out immediately if you think you’re having an emergency, or contact 911.
Common Eye Diseases & Conditions
It’s easy to take our vision for granted when it works flawlessly. But some eye diseases can begin to develop without showing any symptoms.
In your exam, we’ll use diagnostic technology to detect diseases as early as possible so we can begin treatment or refer you to a specialist.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Age-related macular degeneration affects the centre of the vision. As it progresses, the central vision blurs, causing issues with seeing details required for reading or recognizing faces.
People are at a higher risk of AMD as they age and if they smoke. Our recommended treatment plan will depend on the type of AMD (wet or dry) diagnosed, though often we’ll suggest lifestyle changes including a healthy diet rich in vitamins and antioxidants, quitting smoking, and wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes from harmful UV rays.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve and can lead to vision loss over time. The most common form of glaucoma, called primary open-angle glaucoma, starts without symptoms. The only way to detect it before it starts affecting vision is through an eye exam.
Many cases of glaucoma are related to the pressure inside the eye. We can easily measure this pressure in your exam through tonometry. Early treatment for glaucoma can include medicated eye drops and this early action can protect against vision loss.
Cataracts
Cataracts are most often caused by age-related changes to the lens of the eye. The lens is usually clear, but it can become clouded over time.
Initially, prescription glasses can be helpful for people with cataracts. Eventually, if the vision loss impacts a patient’s life, cataract surgery may be the best solution for restoring vision.
Flashes & Floaters
It’s not uncommon to see floaters or spots in your vision occasionally. They might look like dust specks or squiggles. However, if they increase in size or number, it could be a sign of something serious, such as an eye care emergency like retinal detachment or a sign of vision loss.
Similarly, flashes of light might occasionally be a normal effect of changes in your eye, but if you notice small stars or lightning flashes that increase suddenly, treat it as an emergency.
Diabetic Eye Diseases
People with diabetes are at a higher risk of certain eye conditions and diseases because of high blood sugar’s effect on eye health over time, including diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.
Learn about our eye exams designed especially to protect the vision of our patients with diabetes.
Come See Us
Abbotsford Location
- 1215 Sumas Way, Unit 200
- Abbotsford, BC V2S 8H2
- Phone: 604.859.9225
- Fax: 1-866-884-6887
- Email: [email protected]
- Monday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Thursday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:15 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
Chilliwack Location
- 8-45540 Market Way
- Chilliwack, BC V2R 0M5
- Phone: 604.846.3130
- Fax: 1-866-846-9371
- Email: [email protected]
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Thursday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:15 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
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-
Chilliwack
- 8-45540 Market Way
- Chilliwack, BC V2R 0M5
-
P: 604.846.3130
[email protected]
-
Abbotsford
- 1215 Sumas Way, Unit 200
- Abbotsford, BC V2S 8H2
-
P: 604.859.9225
[email protected]